Starter game(s)?

[Corsion]

I've had a bit of trouble with this lately. My little 9 year old brother has began to take a liking towards my hobby, so I've began to let him use the second controller that sits in the corner covered in cobwebs.
I can't seem to find a good 'starter' game for people beginning to play games. In general, (meaning, not just taking into account my 9 year old brother) for a person who has never played a game before, what do you think would be a good game for them to play?

EDIT: I think everyone misunderstood my question. I didn't mean, 'What's a good starter game for my little brother, specifically?'. I meant it more of an 'in general', hypothetical question, like:
What would be an ideal game for a person new to gaming to begin playing?

 

[RaphaelsRedemption]

I start people on Age of Empires 2 and Plants vs Zombies.

But I'm an RTS PC gamer, so that might not work for you.

 

[comadorcrack]

If you got a Wii. Anything first party will do him. I good Idea would be Donkey Knong Country, because he can play as diddy, and when things get really tough, you can pick him up as Kong and carry him through the level.

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

Start him on a Gameboy with Super Mario Land 2.
What? >.>
That is close enough to where I started, so why not? >.>
I can only think of starting him on the older games. They might be old, but they are still damn good.

 

[acolyte]

If you want a starter game for someone as young as your brother try something less gory...or buy a wii...well i don't have any specific games to recommend since most are about shooting stuff and slicing it up with a sword...(not that is something wrong with those,i love them)...
Your best option is to see they're ESRB ratings so it can be an age appropriate game for him...that's all i got ^^

 

[GundamSentinel]

I start people on Age of Empires 2 and Plants vs Zombies.

But I'm an RTS PC gamer, so that might not work for you.

I think Strategy games really are very good games to start with. They're interesting to learn and master, aren't too adult oriented but not childish either. Their often slower pacing makes them easier to get into.

That, or platformers (what's wrong with good old Mario?).

 

[Corsion]

If you got a Wii. Anything first party will do him. I good Idea would be Donkey Knong Country, because he can play as diddy, and when things get really tough, you can pick him up as Kong and carry him through the level.

I don't have a Wii, actually traded it in to get a 360. But that seems like a great mechanic for new players.

Start him on a Gameboy with Super Mario Land 2.
What? >.>
That is close enough to where I started, so why not? >.>
I can only think of starting him on the older games. They might be old, but they are still damn good.

I thought of that sort of stuff too, but that's just like a parent forcing their kid to go to the same school as them - don 't they have to start out with their own experiences? When my little brother is my age, he'll talk about games like Halo the same way we talk about Mario.

 

[Corsion]

I think Strategy games really are very good games to start with. They're interesting to learn and master, aren't too adult oriented but not childish either. Their often slower pacing makes them easier to get into.

That, or platformers (what's wrong with good old Mario?).

That actually sounds like a good idea, platformers and strategy games are how I got into gaming to begin with.

 

[jak1011]

it really depends on what they like, cuz u dont want to give some one a game like Kerby epic yarn to some one who likes gory action sorts of stuff(im not talking bout ur brother tho im talking about a random person like a friend or something. but for a 9 year old, if u have a ds theres lots of games on that he may like. (my bro love new super Mario bros n hes 8), or if u can find a game of a show that he likes get him that.( make sure its not a really bad game 1st tho so watch a review or something 1st be for getting it for him)

 

[Merkavar]

start with a hack and slash like prototype or devil may cry

 

[Smooth Operator]

I'd start him off on 2D platformers, they really hone your controller skills that is then needed in other games, they are fun, easy to get into and require only basic grasp of the world.

Or if you want to get him really addicted go with Minecraft, it is the simplest purest game possible, but with an endless world or possibilities.

Or the previously mentioned Plants vs Zombies, problem solving with fun is sure to keep a kid engaged.

 

[binvjoh]

Little Big Planet, Uncharted 2.

If you own a PS3, that is.

 

[mattttherman3]

Mario for NES, Duck Hunt, eventually move him up to this gen of consoles, get him a pokemon game or something, sports games with basic controls are also good

 

[Roxor]

I started out with Commander Keen, Duke Nukem, Crystal Caves, Jill Of The Jungle, Jazz Jackrabbit, and so on. Basically, DOS platformer games.

 

[AceDefective]

I started with what my cousins played at the time. I played so much Empire Earth back then.
But for your child get him a Gameboy or Ds and some good old pokemon.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

The first game I played? Wolfenstein 3D. Start with that then move to something like Crash Bandicoot or Croc. Older games are good for learning.

 

[Sinclair Solutions]

Demon's Souls.

 

[MercurySteam]

Get him to try some of the LEGO games like Lego Star Wars or Lego Indiana Jones.